Local Couple Responds To Storms
Rob and Katherine Alexander have seen a lot, with Rob striking out even more than Katherine, as she was with child, and now has a baby to care for. What have they seen? The destruction from severe weather all across the southeastern United States.
The Alexanders own Georgia Energy, and routinely provide propane to customers here in Jasper County. Katherine’s sister and her husband own a diesel company, so they also are dispatched to storm areas. Mrs. Alexander and her sister were the first women allowed on the front lines in the efforts in the storm stricken areas.
What do they do? They refuel communication towers and do humanitarian stuff, such as fueling oxygen machines or keeping a 911 center up and running.
Many of the back-up generators in theses areas use propane, which the Alexanders provide, or diesel, which the in-laws provide.
Mr. Alexander said typically they are called in two to three days before the storm actually hits. They start checking sites in advance and refuel where needed. Then, when it’s time for the storm to hit, they move to a staging area away from the direct line of the storm. After the storm hits, they move in.
Mr. Alexander has worked seven major storms, and each one is different, he said. In Florida, it was the mosquitos. In North Carolina, it was the snakes. He said he carries with him 14 days worth of canned food, three or four cases of water, and five days worth of clothes.
When he worked in Texas, he worked 14 days straight without a break…yes, the same five changes of clothes, no shower, very little rest. He said he mostly sleeps in his truck, which makes sense—hotels aren’t up and running in disaster areas, and if they are, they are full.
He said he meets people from all over, and most have some story to tell about middle Georgia. He finds it very interesting that no matter where he goes, people have heard of Monticello, which is written on the side of his truck.
Asked how he got involved, Mr. Alexander said it started with the ice storm in Augusta, when he was called in to help. From there, he made the connections to be called for other storms.
And, he said they did such a good job dispatching calls, they have been called on to do that. During some storms there are three people in the office dispatching calls, then crews on the road. He said that between the two of them they operate nine propane and diesel trucks. He said his crews are considered first responders, so they are allowed in before others.
He said the looting in areas can be real bad, and that people fight for water and gas.
Mr. Alexander said he had seen crushing devastation, such as in Apalachicola and Panama City where everything was damaged. He said each storm leaves a different feeling. He has lots of photos from the seven major storms he has worked, The News just didn’t have room for them.
